I was greived to read of Tracklayers horrible experience at his LHS. But as a possible ray of hope, I just wanted to relay the positive experience I had at my LHS this morning.
I went to my LHS to buy an Atlas #4 Left turn out. Wouldn’t you know it, the only item out of stock was the Atlas #4 Left turn out! That’s just my luck. It was the only piece I needed to continue laying track. I asked the owner if he maybe had some in stock but not on the shelf, and he apologized and said he was supposed to, but his most recent order got split into two parts, and the left hand turn outs hadn’t arrived. I explained that I had gone to his store specifically for a #4 left. So he suggests I buy a #4 left snap turn out which was more expensive. My thought was “sure, great for you…”, but before the thought had cleared my mind, he said he’d sell it to me at a discount. I asked how much of a discount? He said, same as the regular left! He said it was his fault he couldn’t sell me the part I needed, and he’d rather have a happy customer than a big profit!
Of course I bought it! When I got home, the snap switch was easily removed, and I was happily laying track in minutes…feeling very good about the good deal I had just gotten from my LHS owner, and the goodwill my LHS owner had just gotten from me.
So you see…it’s not all doom and gloom out there. I always get good advice, and fair price at my LHS.
Trevor, we are all lucky to have people like that out there. Many of the LHS’s I go to give me discounts because I shop there a lot. I also am really good friends with the owners of the two shops I go to, and we always chit chat about trains or something else. I see one of the owners down the shore, and the great thing about it is that his shore house is in the neighborhood as mine. They are very suprised of the knowledge I have about the hobby since I am only 15.
I also like to encourage that there are good stores out there.
Ive a deal or two myself at times when the LHS actually gave me alternatives or ideas for a different product that might be cheaper to do the same job just as well.
Worth it to do business with them, keeps food on thier table and the required materials flowing to the railroad. Regulated by the Finance Dept. aka the spouse of course. =)
There is a very good hobby shop in Tucson, Arizona, in, of all places, an Ace Hardware. The owner is a G-scaler, and he has employees who are HO and N modelers, so there is usually always someone there who can answer any questions in each scale. I can even special order Atlas HO scale code 83 track items and have them within a week at Internet prices. Nearly all of his prices are comparable to mail order because he is independently wealthy from a dot-com venture and is not doing it to make a profit. I just wish it was closer to me than a 70 mile drive. There are no other hobby shops at all any closer than him.
Discount Model Trains in Addison, TX (DFW) is a great LTS. 20% discount on almost everything (10% on decoders I think.) and a great staff and good inventory.
good return policy. Lucky us in the Dallas area.
yeah for you maybe jw i live up here in sherman and it takes me an hour or so to get there, buts its well worth the drive.
of course there are other shops in the DFW area but i havent been to them. and 2 closed within the last few years, phils hobbies in farmers branch and hobby maker in bedford
I’ve been going to Lin’s Junction in Lansdale, PA for 4 or 5 years now. They sell most stuff 10% below Walthers, and you get an extra 5% off for being an NMRA member.
It’s great when the owner knows your name and your likes. Which could either mean, Linda has great customer service or I go there way too often [(-D]. Seriously, though, if she sees something I might like, she’ll put it aside for the next time I come in. And whenever I need to special order something, she always comes through.
I live in Mesa AZ and we do have a decent LHS. I too have been to the ACE Hardware store in Tucson (at least 80 miles away).
In one trip alone I bought over 30 rolling stock cars. Bulk couplers, wheels and other items.
Excellent stock for my HO needs. Prices on par with internat pricing plus a discount for being a club member. I do not belong to a MRR club but I am a member of the NMRA.
He gives a 10% discount off the already discounted price for being a NRMA member.
Another plus for this LHS is this particular ACE is one of the largest if not the largest I have ever seen. And I have been into many, many ACE hardware stores.
Good prices on bulk packs of small screws, bolts, etc.
I believe most of the LHS are worth going to and many offer discounts to stay competitive with other resources. We should not expect a small business to have the same prices as blow outs and deep discounts that are offered by mailorders houses that do not have the normal overhead. The LHS usually will provide advise and help in many ways.
I agree with you, it is not all doom and gloom. Its a great hobby and so much is now available, I have a hard time d
Hey - I was just there Friday - didn’t know about the NMRA extra discount - guess I have to show them my card next time. Yes, I like the friendly service there. Only been back in the hobby for about 1 year - and Lin’s is the only LHS I have purchased from so far.
I called another LHS in Lansdale about a TCS decoder for my Altas HO MP15DC and the person said that the TCS people actually bought an MP15DC from them to develop the decoder harness that would fit - but he didn’t have any and only ordering one was not worth his time. Guess I will be staying with Lin’s - and having to take a knife to my MP15DC.
I have had outstanding experience with two LHS’s here in the Kansas City area. Main Line Trains in Blue Springs and Show Me Model Railroads in Grandview. Both have good stock, friendly folks and good prices.
Luckily we do have a couple good shops in the Dallas area. Discount Trains (as previously mentioned) is a great shop, very good prices and service.
We also have Collectible Trains close by. They are a bit high on their buildings (MSRP) but on rolling stock and misc stuff (scenery, weights, couplers etc…) they are quite reasonable. I was saying earlier their prices were too high but I guess it just depends on what you are looking for?
I went Saturday to Collectible Trains and the service was first class! My dad bought me a new engine for my birthday. (I’m only 42 years old [;)]) I went to the dark side and got my first RTR engine…oh the shame…but is sure runs great!!
I enjoy the local shops if they have fair prices and good service. For my day to day use I prefer the locals, for big projects (like building the layout) I used the internet mostly. I do like to support our local shops but still buy a lot online for the savings (double edged sword…I know…)
Most businesses, both large and small, understand that to stay in business you have to keep your customers happy. If you don’t they will take their business elsewhere. I think Tracklayer’s expierience was the exception, not the rule. I wouldn’t expect his LHS to stay in business long if they maintain that attitude.